In-space Satellite Construction to be Launched Soon

In-space Satellite Construction to be Launched Soon

Published on : Aug 13, 2015

Made in Space, a space manufacturing company, teams up with NanoRacks, to help the commercial customers use the international space station for their developments. The commercial customers are willing to develop deployment services and orbital construction for tiny satellites, commonly called as the cubesats.

With innovative construction ideas even in the space and availability of advanced technology, the global construction industry is aiming to grow fast in coming few years. Made in Space, along with NanoRacks, are planning to introduce a service called Stash and Deploy. The service, Stash and Deploy, is expected to supply a wide variety of custom and standard cubesat parts that are required at the space station.

Addictive Manufacturing Facility AMF, a commercial 3D printer of Made in Space, is planning to build and supply many such components that are involved in the space station. Cubesats will be first assembled properly in orbit from the parts and later will be positioned into space. This particular process is expected to be beneficial in number of ways, as compared to the traditional Earth-based construction, said the representative of Made in Space. This is considered to be a major change for satellite production.

According to Andrew Rush, the president of Made in Space, in future, the manufacturing process of satellites will be quicker. Satellites will be designed so as to meet the exact needs of the customers. As per the Made in Space authority, the first few steps towards Stash and Deploy would be in place till the first half of 2016. NASA owns the AMF device that was used to print many parts, which were used for a test, last year. Made in Space is about to retain the AMF ownership. Furthermore, Made in Space will make sure that the AMF will be easily available for the commercial customers. Chief engineer of Made in Space, Mike Snyder said that manufacturing of structures directly in space is possible with the help of Made in Space technologies.